Squeegee machine



April 25, 1933.

A. P. CARTER El AL SQUEEGEE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SQUEEGEE MACHINEIHI'HII' A. P. CARTER El AL Filed Aug. 11

llllln April 25, 1933.

d6; dig)??? f77265 C 610/2172 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ARTHUR P. CARTER AND MICHAEL J. HYN ES, OF CHICAGO, ANDJAMES CRQNIN, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ARGO VACUUMCORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SQUEEGEE MAGI'IIN E Application filedAugust 11, 1930. Serial No; 474,348.

This invention relates to machines for wip'-' ing and drying floorsafter the latter have been scrubbed or mopped. The machines at presentavailable for this purpose are comparatively large and heavy and themechanism for removing the water collected by the squeegee is of suchnature that it must be driven by anelectric motor, consequently suchmachines are expensive to install, operate and maintain.

The object of the present invention generally stated is to provide arelatively inexpensive, simple and light squeegee machine which may beactuated to remove the water from the floor by power derived fromrollers running on the floor, and without entailing excessive exertionon the part of the operator.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a squeegeemachine embodying the features of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal vertical central section. V

Fig. 2 is a fragmenta-l sectional view of i the frame for the squeegeeconveyor.

Fig. 2 isa fragmental detail view showing the means for mounting thelower shaft of the conveyor. d

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a device for indicating the amount of waterin the tank.

Fig. 3 is aplan view of the machine with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a supporting framecomposed of frame members 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Fig. 8) forming a rectangularframe, two forwardly extending bars 5 which are secured to the framemember 1, a squeegee supporting means com prising two forwardlydiverging members or bars 6 which are connected together at a suitableangle, as, for example, 90, and united at the apex of the angle, saidbars 6 being secured to the bars 5, and a tie-bar 7 secured at its endsto the, bars 6. The rear portion of the framework just described issupported upon two rollers 8 attached to the rear corners of therectangular frameformed of the members 1, 2, 3 and 4.

A squeegee 9 formed of a stripof rubber is secured to the bars 6 forcontact with the surface of the floor to be dried. This squeegee fromthe surface of the floor.

Means of any preferred character is provided for manually propelling themachine. The means herein'shown for this purpose comprises two parallelhandle-bars 10, the forward lower ends of which are pivoted to aconvenient portion of the supporting framework, as, for example, at theends of the tie-bar 7 A crossbar 11 extends between the handle-bars 10.An arm 12 pivoted to the crossbar 11 and provided with a foot 13v isadapted to serve as aprop to support the handle-bars when the latter areswung for-' ward to give access to the tank as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

The means herein shown for removing the Water whichis wiped from thefloor by the squeegee 9 comprises a conveyor 14 arranged to elevate thewater and deliver it to a tank 15. In the form herein illustrated theconveyor'14 consists of an endless belt 16 of rubber or other suitablematerial having" transverse flights 17 of rubber which serve asSqueegees to push the water up an inclined surface 18, whence the waterflows through a spout 19 into the tank 15. The belt 16 is supported uponrubber-covered rollers 20 and 21 which are journaled in a rectangularframe 22 supported in an upwardly inclined position. For convenience ofassembly and disassembly, the frame 22 may be'made of two bars 23 theupper ends of which are bent at right angles to extend toward eachother, said bent ends being detachably secured together by means of achannel bar 24. (See Figs. 1 and 2 The lower end of the frame 22 issecured to the main frame adjacent'to the apex of the angle formed bythebars 6. The frame 22 is supported in an inclined posit-ion by meansof brackets 25 fastened to the bars 5. v r

The surface 18 is the bottom of a trough or pan 26 secured to the frame22, in which trough the lower run of the belt 16 travels upwardly withthe squeegees 17 in contact with the surface 18. Preferably the lowerrun of the belt 16 is confined in proper relation to and normally heldin engagement with the surface 18 by means of a. backing plate27 (Fig.5) extending longitudinally of and across the frame 22. The spout 19 issecured to the upper end of the pan 23. A cover 28 for the upper side ofthe frame 22 may be secured in position in any preferred manner, as, forexample, by means of screws 29. The openings through which the screws 29extend are elongated as indicated in Fig. 1 to permit of properlongitudinal adjustment of the cover. The frame 22, pan or trough 26 andcover 25 comprise a substantially rectangular hollow casing memberhaving the lower end thereof open and closely adj acent the surface ofthe floor. The lower roller 21 is located so that squeegees 17 passingaround the roller 21 at the lower end of the belt 16 will project downward beyond the lower end of the pan, therebycausing the squeegees 17 topass into the collected water and carry it up the surface 18, the loweredges of the Squeegees 17 preferably but not necessarily contacting thefloor surface previous to passing up the surface 18. It will be seenthat the squeegecs 17 at the point at which they turn to engage the bodyof water collected by the squeegee 9 and pass up the surface 18, arequite close to the lower edge of the latter, so that, a large part ofthe water engaged by the squeegee 17 is moved quickly onto and up thesurface 18.

Fixed to the ends of the roller 21 are rubber-tired wheels 31 adapted tomake contact with the floor when the squeegee 9 is in operative relationto the floor, as shown in Fig. 2. 7

As shown in Fig. 2 the shaft 21 of the roller 21 is supported in notches23 in the lower ends of the frame bars 23. When setting the machineaside after use, the shaft 21 may be drawn down out of the notches 23and released, so as to relieve the tension on the belt 16.

A lug 32 secured to the upper end of the frame 22 is adapted to beengaged by the crossbar 11 and thus serves as a rest for the handleswhen the latter are not in use.

The tank 15 may be of any preferred form and construction. It is hereinshown as of elliptical cross-section and as being elongated to rest uponthe rectangular frame formed of the members 1, 2, 3, and 4;. In theupper wall of the tank is an opening 33 intowhich the spout 19 extendswhen the tank is seated upon the frame. Any desired means may beemployed for removably securing the tank in place, as, for example, twocurved brackets '34 pivoted to the frame member 2 and held in engagementwith the tank by means of wing nuts 35. On the upper side of the tankare handles 36. In an opening 37 in the upper over the floor, thesqueegee 9 serving to Wipe,

the floor dry. The water that collects within the angle formed by thesqueegee is elevated and discharged into the tank 15 by the belt 16, thesqueegees 17 of which force the water up the surface 18 and into thespout 19. The belt is driven through the rotation of the rollers 31 asthe machine is pushed along the floor. the small amount of waterremaining in the angle between the bars 6 which cannot be picked up bythe belt 16 may be removed by means of a sponge. It Will be seen thatthe trough inclines rearwardly relative to the direction oftravel of themachine, so that the lower edge of the trough moves into the body ofcollected water which is caused to enter the trough and be wipedup thesurface 18 by the squeegees 17 together with water which is positivelymoved into the trough by said squeegees, the water moving up the troughin a direction counter to the direction of travel of the machine so thatthe inertia of the collected water acts on forward movement of themachine to aid the squeegees 17 in raising the water to the tank.

The position of the handle 4-2indicates to the operator when the tank isfull, whereupon the tank is removed, emptied and replaced.-

For convenience in gaining access to the tank 15 the handle-bars 10 maybe swung forward and supported by means of the prop 12.

When it is desired to turn the 'machine around the operator bearsdown onthe hanle-bars 10 so as to lift the front end of the machine clear ofthe floor, after which the machine may be turned on the rollers 8.

As compared with devices of the prior art, the present machine is verysimple and light, and inexpensive to manufacture and operate,

the water-elevating mechanism being of such After the floor has beenthus dried,

from a point near the floor within the angle formed by said members andupwardly to said tank, the squeegees on the lower run of said beltconveyor being arranged to travel upwardly in said pan, a backing forthe lower run of the conveyor to maintain said squeegees in wipingcontact with said pan, and roller means adapted to bear upon the floorfor driving said belt conveyor.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frame,a squeegee carried by the frame and including members divergingforwardly in the direction of travel of the machine, and adapted tocontact a floor surface to collect water thereon and move the collectedWater forwardly, an inclined trough carried by the frame and having itslower end open and positioned between said members and adjacent the apexof the angle formed thereby, said open end being located adjacent thefloor surface, said trough inclining upwardly and rearwardly from itslower end relative to the direction of travel of the machine, an endlessbelt conveyor extending lengthwise of the trough and having squeegeescooperable with the trough to move collected Water upwardly in saidtrough in a direction counter to the direction of travel of the machine,means to drive said conveyor, and a receptacle to receive water from thetrough.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frame,a hollow casing member secured to said frame and having one endterminating adjacent a floor surface, said casing member extendingupward and rearward from said end, substantially parallel upper andlower horizontal shafts supported within and adjacent the ends of saidcasing member, an endless belt extending around said shafts within saidcasing member, surface engaging wheels supporting said frame and havingoperable connection with one of said shafts to drive said belt, saidcasing member having its lower end open, longitudinally spacedtransversely extending squeegee members carried by said belt and havingcooperable wiping engagement with the lower wall of said casing memberwhereby said squeegee members are operable to lift water from a floorsurface, and a discharge aperture in the lower wall of said casingmember adjacent the upper end thereof.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frameadapted to be propelled along a floor surface to be dried, a hollowcasing supported on said frame, said casing being inclined upwardlongitudinally of the direction of travel of the frame and having itslower end open, said lower end terminating closely adjacent the surfaceof the floor to be dried, a container carried by said frame and havingcommunication with the upper end portion of said casing, an endlessconveyor in said casing extending longi-' travel of the machine and tocollect and maintain the collected liquid at the lower open end of saidcasing for transmission by said conveyor to said container.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frameadapted to be propelled alonga floor surface to be dried, a hollowcasing supported on said frame, said casing being inclined upwardlongitudinally of the direction of travel of the frame and having itslower end open, said lower end terminating closely adjacent the surfaceof the fioor to be dried, a closed container supported on said-framebeneath the upper end portion of said casing and having an inletaperture in an upper wall portion, a discharge spout depending from thebottom wall of said easing into said aperture, an

endless conveyor in said casing extending longitudinally thereof andcarrying transversely 7 extending longitudinally spaced squeegeescooperable with the bottom wall of said casing, said squeegees beingoperable to move liquid from the floor. surface upwardwithin said casingto said spout for discharge into said container, a squeegee membersupported by said frame and presentinga con tinuous unbroken liquidcollecting wall cooperable with the floor surface, said squeegee memberextending across said frame rearwardly of the lower end of said casingand projecting forward of said casing at the sides thereof whereby saidsqueegee member acts to dry the floor surface in the path of travel ofthe machine and to collect and maintain the collected liquid at thelower open end of said casing for transmission by said conveyor to saidcontainer.

6. A machine of the character described,

comprising a supporting frame adapted to be propelled along a floorsurface to bedried, a hollow casing supported on said frame, said casingbeing inclined upward longitudinally of the direction of travel of theframe and having its lower end open, said lower end terminating closelyadjacent the surface of the floor to be dried, a container carried bysaid frame andhaving communication with the upper end portion of saidcasing, substantially parallel horizontal shafts within said casing andj ournaled in the side walls of said casing adjacent the upper and lowerends thereof, an endless belt surrounding said shafts and held undertension thereby, said belt carrying transversely extendinglongitudinally spaced squeegees cooperabl-e with the bottom wall of saidcasing, said Squeegees being operable to move liquid from the floorsurface upward within said casing to said container, a squeegee membersupported by said frame and presenting a continuous unbroken liquidcoll-ecting wall cooperable with the floor surface, said squeegee memberextending across said frame rearwardly of the lower end of said casingand projecting forward of said casing at the sides thereof whereby saidsqueegee member acts to dry the lioor surface in the path oft-ravel ofthe machine and to collect and maintain the collected liquid at thelower open end of said casing for transmission by said belt carriedsqueegees to said container.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frameadapted to be propelled along a floor surface to be dried, a hollowcasing supported on said frame, said casingbeing inclined upwardlongitudinally of the direction .of travel of the frame and having itslower end open, said lower end terminating closely adjacent the surfaceof the floor to be dried, a container carried by said frame and havingcommunication with the upper end portion of said casing, the side wallsof said casing having adjacent their lower ends alined downward openbearing slots, a shaft within said casing adjacent the upper end thereofand journaled in the side walls of said casing, a shaft having its endsextending into said slots, aresilient endless belt under tensionsurrounding said shafts and acting to hold said second-named shaftseated at the base of said slots, said belt carrying transverselyextending longitudinally spaced squeegees cooperable with the bottomwall of said casing, said squeegees be ing operable to move liquid fromthe floor surface upward within said casing to said container, asqueegee member supported by said frame and presenting a continuousunbroken liquid collecting wall cooperable with the floor surface, saidsqueegee member extending across said frame rearwardly of the lower endof said casing and pro ecting for- I ward of said casing at the sidesthereof whereby said squeegee member acts to dry the floor surface inthe path of travel of the machine and to collect and maintain thecollected liquid at the lower open end of said casing for transmissionby said conveyor to said container.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

ARTHUR P. CARTER. MICHAEL J. HYNES. JAMES C. CRONIN.

